Maryland Saucer Mag

History

In July 1955, Murray Shockett placed a three-day classified advertisement in the Baltimore Morning Sun: "ATTENTION. Men, Women interested in joining FLYING SAUCER CLUB. Write Box 0816236 Sun. Giving name, address, phone." Shockett was a grocer, family man, father of two, a U.S. Army combat engineer veteran who had served in the Pacific during the war. His convoy had been heading for invasion missions when the atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He had been reading everything on flying saucers he could find since the late 1940s: Keyhoe's "Flying Saucers Are Real," Wilkins's "Flying Saucers on the Attack," Leonard Stringfield's CRIFO newsletter, and Mrs. W.C. John's "Little Listening Post" from Washington, D.C.

The ad drew some fifty responses. Among them were George Buschman, Edward G. King 3rd, Miss Marie Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. Leo H. Martin, and Clarence M. Koehler. On Thursday evening, September 22, 1955, thirteen people gathered at Koehler's home at 1836 West Baltimore Street to form the Civilian Research Society of Maryland. Five women and eight men: a librarian, a bank investigator, a draftsman, a photographer, an oil executive, an artist, a security guard, a night school student, a government worker, a CPA, a detective, and businesspeople. Protestants, Catholics, Jews. Ages ranged from the thirties to the sixties.

Volume 1, Number 1 of "Maryland Saucer Mag" appeared in October 1955. Its stated purpose: "To give the News and Views of the Members of the Civilian Research Society of Maryland, A Flying Saucer Club in Baltimore, Maryland." The issue opened with two biblical epigraphs (Zechariah 8:16 and St. John 8:32) and then told the society's founding story in detail. The publication printed the complete official minutes of the September 22 meeting, including the full membership roll with addresses and phone numbers.

The editorial stance was earnest, patriotic, and completely sincere. Members "avowed that they are not out for personal gain, or fame, or a name for themselves in any way." They expressed "deep concern that subversive elements be kept from the group." They were ordinary Baltimore citizens who wanted answers about what was flying overhead, and they formed an organisation to look for them.